Residents have voiced concerns over plans to demolish the former Wembley Hospital buildings and a disused ambulance station to make way for more than 100 new homes.
Developer Fairview Estates Limited has submitted proposals to redevelop the site on Chaplin Road, replacing the existing buildings with a residential scheme comprising 108 homes across blocks ranging from three to six storeys.
While the developer says the project would transform an “underutilised” brownfield site and provide much-needed housing, locals, however, share a different view. Local residents are ‘deeply concerned’ about the plans and have raised concerns about their impact on the area.
A petition opposing the plans has already gathered around 60 signatures. A few of the objections mentioned are parking pressures, traffic congestion, affordable housing provision and the strain on local services.
Many residents fear the limited parking proposed within the development will force additional vehicles onto neighbouring streets, while others fear this will bring more people into an area that already has a large population.
Invasion of privacy is also a concern, with one resident noting that the “proposed building will dwarf my house”, which could potentially affect their privacy. Another resident noted that, “The neighbourhood is already busy and cannot absorb any more residents.”
Questions have also been raised about local infrastructure, with residents warning that schools and public services are already under pressure.
According to the proposed plan, 108 homes, including 28 one-bedroom, 54 two-bedroom and 26 three-bedroom properties will be delivered. Of those, only 11 homes would be classified as affordable housing, representing just over 10 per cent of the total scheme.
The former Wembley Hospital operated on the site from 1928 until healthcare services moved to the Wembley Centre for Health and Care in 2000. The buildings continued to serve operational functions before being declared surplus to requirements in 2019. The site was later used to store personal protective equipment (PPEs) during the Covid-19 pandemic but has remained largely vacant in recent years.
Fairview Estates argues the development would bring a neglected site back into use. In planning documents, the developer states that the site currently provides an “inactive frontage” and makes only a limited contribution to the area.
However, local politicians have joined residents in questioning the proposals.
Liberal Democrat cllr Daniel Brown said the development would add pressure to local roads while failing to provide enough affordable housing. “The plans for the former Wembley Hospital site include more than 100 homes, but with very limited parking,” he said.
“That is likely to push more cars onto surrounding residential streets, adding to congestion and creating real traffic problems for existing residents as well as those moving into the development.” He added that affordable housing levels were “well below” targets outlined in Brent Council’s Local Plan.
Brent Council’s Planning Committee will ultimately decide whether the scheme is approved. Until then, residents and campaigners are continuing to call for changes to the plans or for the application to be refused altogether.
